Bootstrap 3: Creating a Responsive Table with a Fixed First Column for Enhanced Mobile Usability

Mobile devices present unique challenges when displaying complex data in tables. To make tables responsive on these devices, Bootstrap offers the "table-responsive" class. However, you may find it desirable to ensure that the first column, often containing table headers, remains fixed and visible even as the user scrolls horizontally.

One approach to achieving this is through a combination of jQuery and CSS:

jQuery Code

$(function(){
    var $table = $('.table');
    var $fixedColumn = $table.clone().insertBefore($table).addClass('fixed-column');
    $fixedColumn.find('th:not(:first-child),td:not(:first-child)').remove();
    $fixedColumn.find('tr').each(function (i, elem) {
        $(this).height($table.find('tr:eq('   i   ')').height());
    });
});

CSS Code

.table-responsive>.fixed-column {
    position: absolute;
    display: inline-block;
    width: auto;
    border-right: 1px solid #ddd;
    background-color: #fff;
}
@media(min-width:768px) {
    .table-responsive>.fixed-column {
        display: none;
    }
}

Explanation

1. The jQuery code clones the original table and inserts it before the table, giving it the class "fixed-column."
2. It then removes all columns except for the first one from the cloned table.
3. It adjusts the height of the rows in the cloned table to match the original table.
4. The CSS code positions the cloned table absolutely with a fixed width and border, keeping it in place while the original table scrolls horizontally.

This approach ensures that the first column of the table remains fixed on mobile devices, improving usability and navigation, particularly for tables with numerous columns.